Establishment:

Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) was established in the year 2000 with the enactment of the Bhutan Telecommunications Act. The office was then called as Bhutan Telecommunications Authority. It was renamed as Bhutan Communications Authority in the year 2003 with the establishment of new ministry for Information and Communications. In the year 2005 it got it's present name, extending its mandates to regulate ICT and Media services in the country. with the enactment of the Bhutan Information Communications and Media Act 2006, BICMA is formally de-linked from its parent Ministry, Ministry of Information and Communications to function as an independent, autonomous body from 1st January 2007.

Mandates:

Its functions include regulation of telecommunications services, media services like cable television, broadcasting and printing press, assignment of radiocom frequencies and management of the radiofrequency spectrum. It licenses all ICT and Media facility providers and service providers. It also prepares various guidelines, sets technical standards and frame terms and conditions for provision of such services.

Divisions:

The office has Three Divisions, namely, Telecommunications, Media and Post, Radiocommunications and a General Support section. Each Division has different roles and responsibilities. Telecommunications Division is responsible for all ICT related regulations including licensing and issuance of permits for ICT service providers. The Division has a standardization unit under it which develops and implements the standardization of ICT equipments, draw up regulations and guidelines for technical specification, type approval and certification.

Radiocommunications Division is responsible for assignment of radio frequency(ies) for different frequency bands for different services and applications. Apart from issuance of permits and licenses for radio users it manages the scarce natural radiofrequency spectrum. The Division has a radiofrequency monitoring station currently located at Tsirang for the purpose of monitoring frequency interferences.

Media Division licenses and regulates all the media service providers. Apart  from this the Division is also responsible for  preview of cinematographic films prior to the public exhibition. It also has the mandate to setup technical specifications and standards for media services in Bhutan.

Finally the General Support section deals with the administrative matters and assist all the three Sections above. The section is responsible for study of economic aspects in various ICT and Media services in the country.